Absent activation in medial prefrontal cortex and temporoparietal junction but not superior temporal sulcus during the perception of biological motion in schizophrenia: a functional MRI study

Figures & data

Table 1 Demographic data

	Control	Schizophrenia	P-value
N (m:f)	17 (13:4)	17 (9:8)	0.15b
Agea	27.7 (4.3)	311 (6.2)	0.10c
Duration of illness (years)a	–	7.1 (6.1)	–
Amount of antipsychoticsa (chlorpromazine equivalent, mg)	–	437.9 (356.5)	–
PANSS positive symptoma	–	15.2 (5.3)	–
PANSS negative symptoma	–	20.3 (6.0)	–
PANSS general symptoma	–	37.4 (7.2)	–
SOFASa	–	41 (12.8)	–

Notes:

a Mean (standard deviation);

b χ² test;

c Mann–Whitney test.

Abbreviations: N, number; PANSS, positive and negative syndrome scale; SOFAS, social and occupational functioning assessment scale; m, male; f, female.

Figure 1 Task design.

Notes: Each block lasted 30 seconds and consisted of ten trials. Each trial consisted of a 2 second visual stimulus (BM, SM, or ST) and a 1 second interval (white cross). Each session consisted of 12 seconds that were discarded prior to analysis, followed by eight blocks. Each experiment involved three sessions.
Abbreviations: BM, biological motion; s, seconds; SM, scrambled motion; ST, static condition.

Figure 2 Brain regions significantly activated in the BM–ST (A, B) and SM–ST (C, D) conditions have been superimposed onto the SPM templates.

Notes: In both groups (normal and schizophrenia), the activated clusters covered the bilateral hMT+ and bilateral frontal regions in both the BM–ST and SM–ST conditions. Furthermore, in the SM–ST condition, the bilateral superior parietal lobules were activated in both the groups. A one-sample t-test, q(FDR)<0.05, and an extended threshold of ten contiguous voxels were employed. No significant activation was observed after subtraction of the results of schizophrenia group from those of normal control group in both the BM–ST and SM–ST conditions. A two-sample t-test, P<0.0005 (uncorrected) and an extended threshold of ten contiguous voxels were employed.
Abbreviations: BM, biological motion; FDR, false discovery rate; hMT+, motion-sensitive area; SM, scrambled motion; SPM, statistical parametric mapping; ST, static condition.

Figure 3 Brain regions significantly activated in the BM–SM conditions have been superimposed onto the SPM templates.

Notes: (A) Brain regions that were significantly activated in the normal group. The activated clusters covered the bilateral STS, bilateral medial frontal cortex, left precuneus, and middle cingulate. A one-sample t-test, q(FDR)<0.05, and an extended threshold of ten contiguous voxels were employed. (B) Brain regions that were significantly activated in the schizophrenia group. The activated clusters included bilateral STS only. A one-sample t-test, q(FDR)<0.05, and an extended threshold of ten contiguous voxels were employed. (C) Brain regions that were more activated in the normal group than in the schizophrenia group. The activated cluster included the left medial frontal gyrus, supramarginal gyrus, precuneus, cuneus, and middle cingulate. A two-sample t-test, P<0.0005 (uncorrected) and an extended threshold of ten contiguous voxels were employed. Z; z-value of each transverse slice.
Abbreviations: BM, biological motion; FDR, false discovery rate; hMT+, motion-sensitive area; SM, scrambled motion; SPM, statistical parametric mapping; STS, superior temporal sulcus.

Table 2 Significantly activated clusters for the BM–ST contrast

Region		BA	MNI coordinates			Cluster size	t-value
			x	y	z
A: normal group
Frontal lobe
Lt	Precentral gyrus	6	−44	2	46	12	4.41
Lt	Precentral gyrus	6	−40	2	58	10	4.03
Rt	Inferior frontal operculum	48	44	20	30	23	4.00
Parietal lobe
Rt	Superior parietal lobule	7	30	−50	66	35	4.81
Lt	Postcentral gyrus	3	−30	−38	60	24	3.97
Temporal lobe
Rt	Middle temporal lobe	37	50	−68	6	890	10.05
Lt	Middle temporal lobe	37	−56	−66	6	404	5.96
Lt	Middle temporal lobe	48	−50	−38	28	189	5.40
Occipital lobe
Lt	Lingual gyrus	11	−16	24	−8	16	4.43
B: schizophrenia group
Frontal lobe
Lt	Precentral gyrus	6	−44	2	48	15	3.82
Rt	Precentral gyrus	6	34	2	34	29	3.92
Parietal lobe
Rt	Precuneus	5	10	−50	70	149	4.54
Lt	Supramarginal gyrus	48	−54	−42	26	79	4.42
Lt	Precuneus	3	−14	−40	74	34	4.30
Rt	Precuneus	7	26	−56	32	19	4.13
Rt	Rolandic operculum	48	54	−10	20	10	3.91
Lt	Paracentral lobule	6	−100	−12	70	20	3.88
Lt	Postcentral gyrus	2	−40	−38	62	24	3.78
Temporal lobe
Rt	Middle temporal gyrus	37	48	−66	6	1,115	9.25
Lt	Middle temporal gyrus	37	−46	−66	6	1,170	7.13
Lt	Inferior temporal gyrus	36	−36	0	−30	48	4.04
Rt	Superior temporal gyrus	48	54	−34	22	51	3.80
Occipital lobe
Lt	Middle occipital lobe	19	−28	−80	20	10	3.67

Notes: The clusters showed significant activation for each condition. Each row shows the anatomical location of the activation and the corresponding BA, the MNI coordinates of the peak voxel, and the volume of activation. A one-sample f-test at a threshold of q(FDR)<0.05 and an extended threshold of ten contiguous voxels was employed.

Abbreviations: BA, Brodmann’s area; BM, biological motion; FDR, false discovery rate; Lt, left; MNI, Montreal Neurological Institute; Rt, right; ST, static condition.

Table 3 Significantly activated clusters for the SM–ST contrast

Region		BA	MNI coordinates			Cluster size	t-value
			x	y	z
A: normal group
Frontal lobe
Rt	Inferior frontal operculum	44	54	20	32	424	5.95
Lt	Precentral gyrus	6	−32	2	62	91	4.77
Lt	Precentral gyrus	44	−48	10	36	136	4.65
Rt	Precentral gyrus	6	28	−2	50	91	4.65
Parietal lobe
Lt	Superior parietal lobule	7	−18	−62	64	878	6.18
Rt	Superior parietal lobule	5	16	−52	66	1,541	6.01
Lt	Superior parietal lobule	7	−20	−74	46	92	5.32
Lt	Inferior parietal lobule	2	−44	−28	40	49	3.68
Temporal lobe
Rt	Middle temporal lobe	37	46	−66	6	669	11.29
Lt	Middle temporal lobe	37	−56	−68	2	557	6.12
Occipital lobe
Lt	Middle occipital lobe	18	−26	−88	12	31	4.16
B: schizophrenia group
Frontal lobe
Rt	Middle frontal gyrus	6	28	2	50	333	6.20
Lt	Precentral gyrus	6	−40	0	44	153	4.49
Rt	Supplemental motor area	8	4	22	52	23	3.77
Parietal lobe
Lt	Inferior parietal lobule	40	−42	−50	56	388	4.35
Rt	Superior parietal lobule	1	20	−46	74	12	4.02
Rt	Inferior parietal lobule	40	38	−38	46	79	3.70
Rt	Postcentral gyrus	3	36	−26	46	19	3.56
Temporal lobe
Rt	Middle temporal gyrus	37	48	−66	6	1,694	8.85
Rt	Inferior temporal gyrus	20	46	−22	−12	21	4.02
Occipital lobe
Lt	Middle occipital gyrus	19	−48	−76	2	971	7.00
Lt	Superior occipital gyrus	7	−26	−70	38	19	3.58

Notes: The clusters showed significant activation for each condition. Each row shows the anatomical location of the activation and the corresponding BA, the MNI coordinates of the peak voxel, and the volume of activation. A one-sample f-test at a threshold of q(FDR)<0.05 and an extended threshold of ten contiguous voxels was employed.

Abbreviations: BA, Brodmann’s area; FDR, false discovery rate; Lt, left; MNI, Montreal Neurological Institute; Rt, right; SM, scrambled motion; ST, static condition.

Table 4 Significantly activated clusters for the BM–SM contrast

Region		BA	MNI coordinates			Cluster size	t-value
			x	y	z
A: normal groupa
Frontal lobe
Rt	Medial orbitofrontal cortex	11	2	40	−10	190	4.52
Lt	Superior frontal gyrus	9	−14	48	36	63	4.40
Lt	Medial superior frontal cortex	10	−6	66	10	225	4.33
Rt	Superior frontal gyrus	6	14	14	52	16	3.99
Rt	Precentral gyrus	6	50	−6	48	10	3.69
Rt	Medial orbitofrontal cortex	11	2	40	−10	190	4.52
Lt	Superior frontal gyrus	9	−14	48	36	63	4.40
Parietal lobe
Lt	Precuneus	5	−4	−44	50	1,287	5.66
Lt	Precuneus	23	−8	−56	24	287	4.56
Rt	Paracentral lobule	4	0	−28	74	38	3.83
Temporal lobe
Lt	Superior temporal gyrus	48	−50	−24	14	113	5.27
Lt	Superior temporal sulcus	21	−54	−56	22	275	5.04
Rt	Superior temporal sulcus	21	62	−52	18	100	4.31
Rt	Heschel gyrus	48	52	−6	8	18	4.02
Occipital lobe
Rt	Lingual gyrus	27	8	−40	4	10	3.75
Lt	Lingual gyrus	−6	−18	−60	−6	10	3.69
Cingulate and hippocampus
Lt	Middle cingulate	24	−8	12	32	23	4.13
Lt	Hippocampus	35	−16	−10	−18	36	3.89
B: schizophrenia groupa
Temporal lobe
Lt	Superior temporal sulcus	22	−60	−44	10	21	6.66
Rt	Superior temporal sulcus	21	62	−52	18	18	5.57
C: comparison between groups (normal versus schizophrenia)b
Frontal lobe
Lt	Superior frontal gyrus	9	−14	48	34	29	4.20
Parietal lobe
Lt	Supramarginal gyrus	48	−50	−24	16	13	4.15
Occipital lobe
Lt	Cuneus	18	0	−84	28	41	4.66
Lt	Precuneus	7	−8	−72	38	10	3.80
Cingulate and hippocampus
Lt	Middle cingulate		−2	−44	50	28	4.50

Notes: The clusters showed significant activation for each condition. Each row shows the anatomical location of the activation and the corresponding BA, the MNI coordinates of the peak voxel, and the volume of activation.

a A one-sample f-test at a threshold of q(FDR)<0.05 and an extended threshold of ten contiguous voxels.

b A two-sample f-test at a threshold of P<0.0005 (uncorrected) and an extended threshold of ten contiguous voxels.

Abbreviations: BA, Brodmann’s area; BM, biological motion; FDR, false discovery rate; Lt, left; MNI, Montreal Neurological Institute; Rt, right; SM, scrambled motion.